Outline of the 2002 National Survey of Prices

1. Purpose of the Survey

The purpose of this survey is to obtain basic data on prices for price policy, etc. For this purpose, it aims to study the actual conditions of the price differentials among outlets, brands, regions, etc. by widely surveying prices of goods and services which are important objects of consumer spending, as well as the factors that influence price decisions including types and locations of outlets.

2. Characteristics of the 2002 Survey

Recent fall in retail prices is expanding in many areas due to consumers' demand for goods with high quality but low price, severing competitions as a result of regulatory reform and declines in land prices, and technical innovations in distribution system and so on. In these conditions, the 2002 survey focused on recognizing the price differentials among types and locations of outlets and clarifying the long term changes of this price level.

3. Date of the Survey

This survey was carried out as of November 21 (Thursday) 2002.

4. Coverage of the Survey

(1)Municipalities surveyed

The survey was carried out in every city with a population of 100,000 or more (including Ku-area or special wards of Tokyo). As for municipalities of less than 100,000, the survey was carried out in 408 selected ones.

Number of Municipalities by Population Size

Population size

Number of municipalities surveyed

Cities with a population of 100,000 or more

228

Cities with a population of less than 100,000

235

Towns and villages

173

Total

636

(2)Stores surveyed

The survey was carried out covering outlets, eating and drinking places, and establishments engaged in service industries in the municipalities surveyed.

A.Survey by the enumerators

The types of stores surveyed by the enumerators were outlets. Outlets surveyed were divided into several groups by sales floor spaces, industrial classification and type of outlets. About 132,000 outlets were selected nationwide from every group.

B.Survey by the municipalities

The types of stores surveyed by the municipalities were eating and drinking places, and establishments engaged in service industries (about 60,000 outlets and about 64,000 prices). The municipalities selected stores according to certain criteria.

C.Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)

The types of stores surveyed by MIC were establishments engaged in service industries covering a wide area, and about 300 establishments engaged in internet sales, which was a nation wide selection. Statistics Bureau of MIC selected stores according to certain criteria.

5. Survey Items

(1)Items concerning basic attributes of outlets

A.Name of outlet

B.Type of outlet

C.Discount sales

D.Number of persons engaged

E.Presence of rival outlet

F.Distribution of advertisement papers

G.Main supplier

H.Location

I.Concentration of outlets

J.Treatment of the consumption tax

(2)Items concerning prices of goods and services

Among the goods and services that were important to consumers, 211 items were selected in order to survey ordinary prices on Thursday, November 21, 2002, the date of the survey. As for 18 items out of the 211, "the lowest price in the past month" and "prices on the days between November 15, Friday and 21, Thursday" were surveyed, as well.

(3)Survey Items

Survey items were divided into three groups according to the persons in charge.

(2)Survey by the municipalities

(3)Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications - Stores

7. Survey Methods

(1)Survey by the enumerators

The enumerators distributed questionnaires to the designated stores. After the representatives of the designated stores filled out the questionnaires, the enumerators collected them. They submitted them to the municipalities or supervisors after checking them.

(2)Survey by the municipalities

The municipality officers interviewed representatives of the designated stores.

(3)Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Statistics Bureau officials interviewed the representative of the designated stores or mailed questionnaires to the stores and the representatives of the stores returned them after the entry in them.

8. Tabulation Items

The following items were tabulated on the basis of nationwide, prefecture, region, city group, etc.